Cape Breton Eagles
CityCape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
LeagueQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
DivisionTelus Maritimes
Founded1969
Home arenaCentre 200
ColoursBlack, white, gold and grey
       
General managerSylvain Couturier
Head coachLouis Robitaille
Website
Franchise history
1969–1977Sorel Éperviers
1977–1979Verdun Éperviers
1979–1980Sorel/Verdun Éperviers
1980–1981Sorel Éperviers
1981–1995Granby Bisons
1995–1997Granby Prédateurs
1997–2019Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
2019–presentCape Breton Eagles

The Cape Breton Eagles are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Their home rink is Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.

History

Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia

The franchise was originally granted to the Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) for the 1969–70 season. They then moved from Sorel to Verdun in 1977 to become the Verdun Éperviers. In 1979, they played in both Sorel and Verdun before moving back to Sorel for the next season. In 1981, they moved to Granby to become the Granby Bisons, and in 1995 changed their names to the Granby Prédateurs. In 1996, the Prédateurs won the Memorial Cup. In 1997, the franchise was relocated to Sydney to become the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Prior to the Eagles' arrival, Sydney played host to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Cape Breton Oilers from 1988 to 1996.

Early years in Cape Breton (1997–1999)

Screaming Eagles logo from 1997 to 2019

The Screaming Eagles' first captain was Daniel Payette under coach Dany Dubé.

The Vincent era (1999–2008)

In 1999, Pascal Vincent was hired as the new head coach and general manager. The Screaming Eagles attempted to strengthen the club by drafting future National Hockey League (NHL) star Ilya Kovalchuk tenth overall in the 2000 CHL Import Draft. However, Kovalchuk declined to report to the team. Along with star players Marc-André Fleury, Dominic Noel, Stuart MacRae and Stephen Dixon, the Screaming Eagles reached the QMJHL's conference final in 2002, only to lose in five games to Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Fleury's number 29 jersey went on to be retired by the Screaming Eagles in 2008. Kovalchuk's number 71 was retired in 2014, as an April Fools' Day prank.[1]

Vincent stacked the Screaming Eagles lineup with many NHL prospects for the 2003–04 season in hopes of bringing a league title to Cape Breton. After the Screaming Eagles won 49 games and captured a division title, with Fleury also returning from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the playoffs, but the Screaming Eagles lost in the second round to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

At the 2004 QMJHL Draft, the Screaming Eagles chose James Sheppard with the first overall pick. In 2006–07, along with star players Luc Bourdon, Ondrej Pavelec and Oskars Bartulis, Sheppard led the Screaming Eagles to the league semifinals, only to lose in seven games to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

The 2007–08 season saw 16-year-old goaltender Olivier Roy rise to prominence. The Screaming Eagles finished fourth in their division and won their first round playoff series despite having a roster that normally dressed at least ten rookies. Vincent went on to be named the 2008 QMJHL Coach of the Year. Following the end of the season, Vincent became the head coach and general manager of the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.

2010s history (2008–2019)

The team returned to the playoffs in 2014.

Following Vincent's departure, assistant coach Mario Durocher took over the role of head coach and general manager. In a bid to host the Memorial Cup in 2012, Durocher added former NHL players Mike McPhee and Guy Chouinard, former NHL coach Pierre Creamer and Michel Boucher to the hockey staff in consulting roles in 2010. Durocher was relieved of his duties on April 12, 2011, after a lackluster season in which the team finished 16th in the league and last in the Atlantic Division with just 41 points.[2][3]

The team's then-head coach Ron Choules replaced Durocher as general manager in April 2011, though the team failed to improve on the ice. After a poor start to the 2012–13 season, Choules himself was fired on December 3, 2012, with former Val-d'Or head coach Marc-André Dumont announced as his replacement.[4] The Screaming Eagles failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in the 2012–13 season.[5] At season's end, assistant coach Jean-François David was fired.[6]

After being eliminated in the second round of the 2019 playoffs, the Screaming Eagles fired their coaching staff. Dumont was replaced with Nova Scotia native, Jake Grimes, along with former Eagles alumni Chris Culligan as assistant coach.

The team mascot is an eagle named Screech.[7]

Cape Breton Eagles (2019–present)

On August 14, 2019, the team rebranded itself as the Cape Breton Eagles.[8]

On November 30, 2021, head coach Jake Grimes resigned as head coach citing personal reasons. He finished with a winning record overall with the club, at 46–34–0–7 record over one-and-a-half seasons but had started the 2021–22 season with a 6–14–0–4 record.[9] The Eagles spent approximately two months with an interim head coach before hiring Chadd Cassidy on January 7, 2022.[10]

NHL alumni

List of alumni to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):

NHL first round draft picks

List of first round picks in the NHL Entry Draft:

Retired numbers

Award winners

List of award winners:

Season-by-season record

As of the 2022–23 season:[12]

Regular season

OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss, Pct = Winning percentage
SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOLSLPointsPctGoals
for		Goals
against		Standing
1997–987019465——430.3072112956th, Dilio
1998–997022444——480.3432262726th, Dilio
1999–0072243936—570.3962303023rd, Maritimes
2000–0172303741—650.4512702922nd, Maritimes
2001–02723820104—900.6252862243rd, Maritimes
2002–0372213795—560.3892002684th, Maritimes
2003–0470491623—1030.7362731641st, Atlantic
2004–0570322783—750.5362061953rd, Atlantic
2005–06704023—34870.6212362063rd, Eastern
2006–07704622—20940.6713082002nd, Eastern
2007–08704024—33860.6142422304th, Eastern
2008–09684618—31960.6762522012nd, Atlantic
2009–10684122—23870.6032381853rd, Atlantic
2010–11681845—14410.3011542465th, Maritimes
2011–12682342—12490.3602193065th, Maritimes
2012–13681446—35360.2651613086th, Maritimes
2013–14683727—13780.5742602602nd, Maritimes
2014–15683131—33680.5002582465th, Maritimes
2015–16683824—51820.6032862373rd, Maritimes
2016–17683925—22820.6032702304th, Maritimes
2017–18683228—62720.5292352594th, Maritimes
2018–19684022—15860.6322672143rd, Maritimes
2019–20634020—21830.6592691942nd, Maritimes
2020–21381225—10250.3291131866th, Maritimes
2021–22681447—43350.2571833356th, Maritimes
2022–23683034—31640.4712242753rd, Maritimes

Playoffs

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1997–98L, 0–4, Quebec Remparts———
1998–99L, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst Titan———
1999–2000L, 0–4, Quebec Remparts———
2000–01W, 4–3, Chicoutimi SaguenéensL, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst Titan——
2001–02W, 4–1, Baie-Comeau DrakkarW, 4–2, Halifax MooseheadsL, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst Titan—
2002–03L, 0–4, Halifax Mooseheads———
2003–04ByeL, 1–4, Chicoutimi Saguenéens——
2004–05L, 1–4, Gatineau Olympiques———
2005–06W, 4–1, St. John's Fog DevilsL, 0–4, Acadie–Bathurst Titan——
2006–07W, 4–0, St. John's Fog DevilsW, 4–1, Acadie–Bathurst TitanL, 3–4, Val-d'Or Foreurs—
2007–08W, 4–2, Lewiston MaineiacsL, 1–4, Halifax Mooseheads——
2008–09W, 4–0, Saint John Sea DogsL, 3–4, Quebec Remparts——
2009–10L, 1–4, Moncton Wildcats———
2010–11L, 0–4, Saint John Sea Dogs———
2011–12L, 0–4, Saint John Sea Dogs———
2012–13did not qualify
2013–14L, 0–4, Gatineau Olympiques———
2014–15L, 3–4, Quebec Remparts———
2015–16W, 4–2, Chicoutimi SaguenéensL, 3–4, Saint John Sea Dogs——
2016–17W, 4–3, Gatineau OlympiquesL, 0–4, Charlottetown Islanders——
2017–18L, 1–4, Drummondville Voltigeurs———
2018–19W, 4–2, Charlottetown IslandersL, 1–4, Rimouski Océanic——
2019–20QMJHL playoffs cancelled
2020–21did not participate
2021–22did not qualify
2022–23L, 0–4, Halifax Mooseheads———

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Screaming Eagles Pull April Fool's Joke". Cape Breton Post. April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Screaming Eagles add hockey gurus - Sports - the Cape Breton Post". Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  3. ↑ "Screaming Eagles fire Mario Durocher - Local - the Cape Breton Post". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  4. ↑ "Choules fired as Screaming Eagles head coach, general manager". Cape Breton Post. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ Eagles will miss QMJHL playoff for first time in franchise history http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/Hockey/2013-03-03/article-3191562/Eagles-will-miss-QMJHL-playoff-for-first-time-in-franchise-history/1 Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Screaming Eagles assistant coach David not returning http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/Hockey/2013-03-21/article-3205258/Screaming-Eagles-assistant-coach-David-not-returning/1 Archived 2013-04-10 at archive.today
  7. ↑ "Screaming Eagles on the lookout for missing mascot". CBC News. March 20, 2009.
  8. ↑ "New brand and name unveiled for former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles". QMJHL. August 14, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Jake Grimes steps down as Cape Breton Eagles head coach". saltwire.com. November 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Eagles Hire Chadd Cassidy as New Head Coach". Cape Breton Eagles. January 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Eagles to Retire Chris Culligan's #7". OurSports Central. September 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ Cape Breton Screaming Eagles season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com
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